Operating mechanism for sewing or other machines



(No Model.) I 2 SheetsSheet 1.

M. PBEEDMAN. OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING OR OTHER MACHINES. No.588,973. Patented Aug. 31,1897.

: NORRI5 PETERS co, mc'rouruu, wuumorcu a 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

(No Model.)

' M. FREEDMAN. 4 OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING OR OTHER MACHINES.

Patented Aug. 81, 189'7.

N No. 588,973.

a /e 15,: kiff Przll al UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARRES FREEDMAN, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING OR OTHER MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 588,973, dated August31, 1897. Application filed September 18, i896. Serial No. 606,248. (Nomodel.)

a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county ofMercer and State of New Jersey, have invented acertain new and usefulImprovement in Operating Mechanism for Sewing or other Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in motors forsewing-machines and the like, and has for its object to so constructsuch a device as to increase the facility with which the foot-power'maybe transmitted to such machines and obviate the necessity of an anklemovement and instead to permit the power to be generated from a movementof the whole leg.

A further object is to increase the speed of a sewing-machine, therebypermitting the accomplishment of more work in a given time and instantlyto stop a machine at less loss of time than is now occasioned.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and thenspecifically claimed.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the same, the constructionand operation will now be described in detail, referring to theaccompanying drawings, forming a which Figure 1 is a vertical section ofa stand having the balance-wheel thereon and fitted with my improvement.Fig. 2 is a similar view of the upper portion of the stand, looking inan opposite direction from Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is anenlarged transverse section of the ratchet mechanism. Fig. 5 is anelevation of two of these mechanisms, one being partly broken away andsectioned to disclose its internal arrangement; and Fig. 6. is a frontelevation of the upper portion of a stand, fully illustrating a modifiedform of the brake mechanism.

In the drawings, A represents the framework of the stand,-which not onlyserves for the legs of the support of said stand, but also for thesupport of the several operative parts thereof. J ournaled within thisframe is the part of this specification, in

drive-shaft B, carrying ratchet mechanisms,

each composed of a pawl h, pivoted within a slot of the shaft andadapted to be operated by the spring 2' therebeneath to engage the cutaway so as to accommodate the pawl 71,

when springing outward into engagement with the shoulders. The object ofthese blocks is to deaden the sound incident to the action of the pawlthereon, thus causing the mechanism to act noiselessly.

Rack-bars F, having teeth upon their under sides, are arranged to meshwith the pinion of the ratchet mechanism and are pivoted at G to thelevers H, said levers carrying at their lower ends the treadles I, fromwhich it will be seen that when the treadles are moved back and forth bythe feet of the operator the rack-bars will cause the pinions to revolvefirst in onedirection and then in the other, and when said pinions arebeing revolved in'the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 the pawls'willengage the teeth of the ratchets, so as to revolve the shaft B in thesame direction, and when the pinions are revolved in the: oppositedirection by the reversed movement of the rack-bars the pawls will passover the teeth of the ratohets without effecting the movementof saidshaft, so that by the continual alternate operations of the levers thisshaft will be caused to maintain a constant rotation inone direction.Also secured on the shaft B is a gear-wheel J, arranged to mesh with thepinion L on the balance-wheel shaft M, and the relative diameter of thisgear-wheel and pinion is such as to cause the shaft M to revolve at thedesired speed, and the balance-wheel N serves as momentum perpetuator.The wheel N also serves as a beltwheel to transmit motion from thedriving mechanism to the cam-shaft of the sewing-machine in the usualmanner.-

From this description it will be seen that great speed can be acquiredby the operation of the levers H and that less exertion willbe necessaryto operate the machine than if the ordinary'form of treadle were used,since the strength of the leg is utilized for forcing said levers to andfro, as against only the ankle movement necessary to drive the ordinarytreadle. \Vhen amachine is driven at a high rate of speed, it isnecessary to supply the same with a powerful and quick-acting brake orotherwise a large amount of time would be lost in stopping said machinewhen occasion requires, and in the ease of asewing-machine this willamount to a large percentage of the total time in which thesewing-machine is in use, since it is essential to stop and start such amachine at short intervals. I therefore arrange a brake which may beapplied by the leg of the operator, thereby utilizing as much of theoperators strength to stop the machine as had previously been used topropel the same. This brake consists of a rock-shaft O, journaled in thebearing 1, and having secured 011 the outer end a lever Q, which is soarranged and placed as to permit its being operated by a sidewisemovement of one knee of the operator, and this sidcwise movement willturn the shaft and force the lever R in the opposite direction from thatin which the lever Q moves, which in turn will move the rod S in thedirection of the arrow marked next adjacent thereto to compress thespring T and apply the brake U to the balance-wheel N, and when thelever Q is released the spring T will return the rock-shaft to itsnormal. position, thereby releasing the brake from the wheel. By thisarrangement the momentum of the balance-wheel may be instantly arrested,which will bring the machine to a sudden stop and save the time whichwould otherwise be consumed in slowing down the movements of the machinebefore changing the work.

Instead of the brake just described the arrangement may be as that shownin Fig. 6, which consists of a lever a, pivoted at b and connected tothe brake-rod (7, which is provided with the springs e and brake f. Theoperation of this brake will be identical with the one before described.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In adcvice of the character described, a frame, vertical leverspivoted thereto, horizontal rack-bars hinged to the levers, a powershaftjou rnaled in the frame, pinions mounted on the power-shaft to engagethe rack-bars, circular housings carried by the pinions, radial. ribsforming ratchet-teeth within the housings, elastic pads secured betweenthe ribs, a spring-pressed pawl pivoted to the power-shaft, abalanceqvheel and shaft journaled within the frame and a pinion securedthereon meshing with the gear-wheel, as and for the purpose described.

2. Ina device of the character described, a casing, ribs therein,elastic material located between the ribs having cut-away portionsadjacent to the ribs forming teeth therewith and means for engaging theteeth, as and for the purpose described.

In a device of the character described, a shaft having a longitudinalslot therein, a spring-pressed pawl within the slot, a circular casingjournaled 011 the shaft, radial ribs secured within the casing, andelastic material between the ribs having cut-away portions adjacent tothe ribs forming teeth therewith to be engaged by the pawl, as and forthe purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of the subscribing witnesses.

MARRES FREEDMAN.

\Vitnesses:

S. W ILLIAMSOX,

DAVIS ABRAMS, LEwIs L. CoNsoLLov.

